Paing Takhon: Viral Burmese 'Hot Monk' is now in 'hot soup' and facing jail time

Back in January 2021, Paing Takhon broke the internet for photos of himself in traditional Buddhist garb. His posts went viral and he became dubbed as the internet’s ‘Hot Monk’. However, according to Channel News Asia, Paing Takhon is now facing 3 years in a Burmese jail.

What exactly did he do?

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

Paing Taknon, born Sit Ko Paing, is a Burmese model, actor and singer born on 17 September 1996.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

Paing Takhon was born and raised in Kawthaung, Myanmar, alongside five other siblings. Soon after completing high school, Paing Takhon left his hometown to work as a model.

(Image: Channel ME)

At 18, Paing Takhon enrolled under Burmese’s top model agency, John Lwin's Star & Model International Modeling Agency, to train as a model. At the same time, Paing Takhon moved to the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, for the role.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

This was a big move that Paing Takhon did as John Lwin is considered one of Myanmar’s top modelling agencies with connections to big brands such as L’Oreal. With the connections at John Lwin and his natural charm and charisma, Paing Takhon soon became one of Myanmar’s rising top models.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

In the two years since he joined John Lwin, Paing Takhon has appeared in numerous music videos, TV commercials, and modelled for several fashion magazines. Paing Takhon has also modelled for big brands such as the beauty brand 'Ponds' during the start of his career in 2014!

(Image: MMN Entertainment)

One prominent work as a model was his work as a dance partner for Burmese star Nan Su Yati Soe during the Asean Celebrity Explore Quest Malaysia back in 2016, where the two represented Myanmar out of a sea of Southeast Asian celebrities at a summit.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

With his popularity as a model reaching sky-high in Myanmar, it was natural that Paing Takhon was offered lead acting roles by many Burmese producers. Since then, the model-turned-actor has starred in several big Burmese productions such as ‘Midnight Traveller’, ‘Bad Boys 2’, and ‘Traveller’s Notes’.

(Image: Channel ME)

Did you know that Paing Takhon also sings? The star released his solo album, ‘Lover’, in 2017. The earnings from his album sales all went to support orphaned children from Ananda Metta orphan school in Myanmar.

(Image: Channel ME)

Paing Takhon’s popularity spilled over from Myanmar to Thailand in 2019 in a sudden buzz by Thai netizens charmed by his good looks. His popularity in Thailand was so huge that people named him the unofficial ‘ASEAN Economic Community ambassador’ in a report from Khao Sod!

(Image: MMN Entertainment)

Paing Takhon’s popularity was so overwhelming that in the same year, the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association and the Myanmar Tourism Federation decided to bank in on his fame by making him an official Burmese tourism ambassador to Thailand according to a report from The Myanmar Times.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

In a surprising post in 2021, Paing Takhon made headlines once again by going viral for his good looks – in the most unusual way. Posts of the model-actor in traditional Burmese monk garb went viral and was making the rounds all over the internet. Many netizens went into a frenzy over the photos and this earned Paing Takhon the moniker of ‘Hot Monk’.

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

Paing Takhon’s good looks and charm was even appreciated by the international crowd as Buzzfeed named him in the listicle “23 Stunning South Asian Men That Are Too Gorgeous For Words” where he is ranked at number 8!

(Image: paing_takhon on Instagram)

In 2021, Paing Takhon hit the news for a different reason. The star made a very public stance in response to the Myanmar coup by putting himself at the forefront of the anti-coup movement alongside many Burmese citizens.

BBC reports that in his now-removed social media page, the star wrote: “We demand to respect 2020 election results and form new civillian [sic] government soonest by NLD led perliment [sic].”

This was not taken lightly as the new ruling Junta then took to hunting down Burmese citizens who participated in the protests, and arrested Paing Takhon for his involvement and role in them, according to the BBC.

Paing Takhon was joined by many Burmese celebrities in also launching a social media movement in their respective social media pages by rallying fellow Burmese citizens against the Burmese Junta. Channel News Asia reports that about 100 Burmese celebrities are currently being hunted by the Junta at present for supporting the anti-coup movement.

(Image: Paing Takhon, Facebook)

Seemingly unfazed, an acquaintance of the model-actor told BBC that Paing Takhon is still standing strong after his arrest and sentence – that he was “not scared at all” of what is to come as a "consequence" of standing up for justice.

(Image: Paing Takhon, Facebook)

From Channel News Asia, the verdict came out in December last year that Paing Takhon is to be sentenced to “3 years of jail with hard labour”. His family is currently on the fence on whether to appeal against the star’s sentencing.

(Image: Paing Takhon, Facebook)